OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, 6 November — Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon yesterday called early elections, heralding three months of Israeli political turmoil and deepening uncertainty in the Middle East ahead of a possible US war on Iraq. The upheaval that erupted in Israel after Sharon’s “unity government” collapsed last week also meant peace efforts with the Palestinians were certain to be put on the back burner.
“I will dissolve the Knesset and call general elections within 90 days,” Sharon told a news conference after failing to form an extreme right-wing government to replace his 20-month-old broad coalition.
The Israeli political turmoil has been accompanied by new violence in the two-year-old Palestinian uprising for statehood. Israeli forces yesterday killed two Palestinians during a military operation in Rafah in the Gaza Strip.
Before the ballot Israel’s two main parties — Sharon’s extreme right-wing Likud and the center-left Labour Party that left his coalition last week in a dispute over funding for Jewish settlements on occupied land — will hold leadership elections.
Hawkish former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that now Sharon had agreed to an election, he would agree to become foreign minister in the outgoing government — then challenge him in the Likud primary. Netanyahu accepted Sharon’s offer to become foreign minister hours after Sharon had called elections. Labour, led by former Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, holds its primary on Nov. 19. He faces a tough challenge from two dovish candidates, former general Amram Mitzna and party veteran Haim Ramon.
Palestinians called on Israelis to choose a government committed to the peace process, shattered as it may be. “What is needed now is an Israeli government committed to peace because this is the only path to security and stability,” Nabil Abu Rudeina, a senior adviser to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, told reporters.
